Created this thread to list my gripes with the unit. Overall the unit seems to be working well, but there are a few functional/software issues I find extremely painful.
I am using this unit for the kids in the playroom, with mysky in our lounge. Being very familiar with the mysky features this unit has a far way to go. That said, if some of my basic issues could be ironed out this unit has the capability of being extremely competitive.
As mentioned, we also have mysky. Most of the shows etc we watch are from the freeview channels. Whats keeping me with Sky at the moment is not actually the content (except for the sports channels), but rather the ease of use of the mysky unit. Even the kids are extremely familiar with the ease of its use. I know that there are other more expensive freeview PVR’s out there that are very user friendly and capable. But this unit has the hardware to perform just as well (except for the inability to record 2shows at once, single tuner!). And its just $160.
Here is my wish list so far..
1) The Remote. Buttons are all over the place. Compared to mysky, the recording buttons are all in close proximity. Why on earth is the “back” button and “Guide” buttons right on top? 2) There is a limit on the amount of shows one can series link. 3) Why its it so painful to just delete something that has been watched? I even need to enter a password. 4) In the library, there is no indication which recorded shows have been viewed already. How about another column, listing viewed or new? 5) If a recorded show is viewed only halfway, then stopped, its necessary to start all the way from the beginning again or use fast forward. 6) Remote / System response lags. 7) There is no option to add leeway to recordings, ie, record for an extra 5minutes on each side of a recording. Recording seems to stop dead when show is scheduled to end.
Please add your experiences and hopefully we can get some action from the guys at dishtv to sort these issues out.
Dunnersfella: I saw it for $99 the other day... For that, I'd be happy if it turned on, let alone had top notch functionality! Cheap box, cheap performance. :-)
Hardly Normal - they all had hand written 'updated firmware' written on the side. So I'm guessing they'd be opened, updated, then put out for sale? Didn't buy one, as I have no need for it... and if I did want a Freeview recorder, I'd struggle to go past the Pana BluRay recorder, the DLNA server works extremely well for format shifting :-)
I found the layout of the play/pause, stop, fast forward and rewind buttons is not good as well.
Rewind and fast forward are located close to the bottom while play/pause and stop are close to the top. Also, they use the word "record" for the record button, why not the universal red dot?
I could not use the remote using only one hand, try to press play after doing fast forward was a challenge.
By the way, you mentioned that you want the STB to record an extra few minutes at the end of the booked program. You can do that by going to User Preference, then press down (almost) all the way down, and you should be able to find it.
By the way, you mentioned that you want the STB to record an extra few minutes at the end of the booked program. You can do that by going to User Preference, then press down (almost) all the way down, and you should be able to find it.
Hmmm, Ive had this box about a week (from JB last week at their gst and cost sale). Having not had broadcast TV for the better part of 4 years, I mostly ignore it, but when I have tried to use it, I've had no serious problems.
Although my girlfriend tried to record shortland street, and it jittered all over the place, I guess back to streaming until thats fixed??
Also, there is an option to extend the time around recordings as stated above.
BlackSunEmpire: Hmmm, Ive had this box about a week (from JB last week at their gst and cost sale). Having not had broadcast TV for the better part of 4 years, I mostly ignore it, but when I have tried to use it, I've had no serious problems.
Although my girlfriend tried to record shortland street, and it jittered all over the place, I guess back to streaming until thats fixed??
Also, there is an option to extend the time around recordings as stated above.
Yip, thanks I saw that that feature is already there. And the new furmware that I have just tested fixes that jittering.
I gave them a ring yesterday to try and get a copy of that firmware, they wouldnt give me a copy :-( You might have the only working 1020 in the country! ;-o
I gave them a ring yesterday to try and get a copy of that firmware, they wouldnt give me a copy :-( You might have the only working 1020 in the country! ;-o
Allan
They said they were going to be releasing it this week. Keep looking at their website, it should be any day now.
Can't seem to edit the first post but here is something else for the list:
- Streaming from a DLNA Server does not yet work. - When in the library of recorded shows, there should be a playlist option. Ie like with mysky i can select a whole bunch of shows to play one after the other.
I asked them:Can you please add the following enhancements to maybe a future release of the software. It would be great to see these features in the future:
1) Get rid of the annoying password prompts - Why its it so painful to just delete something that has been watched? I even need to enter a password.
2) What recorded shows have already been viewed - In the library, there is no indication which recorded shows have been viewed already. How about another column, listing viewed or new?
3) If a recorded show is viewed only halfway, then stopped, its necessary to start all the way from the beginning again or use fast forward.
4) Streaming from a DLNA Server does not yet work. 5) Recordings list playlist option - When in the library of recorded shows, there should be a playlist option. Ie like with mysky i can select a whole bunch of shows to play one after the other.
They Replied: Thanks for your feedback . It is exactly what we need , We are already implementing 1,2,3, points . Streaming is a work in progress but we are limited with Freeview HDCP . We cannot allow file transfer of any HD content . Item 5 we will look at .
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